Truss pad



B. F. PEASE Nov. 12, 1935.

TRU S S PAD Filed March 6, 1951 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATE FATENT OFFICE 2,026,958 TRUSS PAD Benjamin F. Pease, Wyoming, Ohio Application March 6, 1931, Serial No. 520,520

7 Claims.

My invention relates to supporting constructions for parts of the human body, and particularly to truss pads and similar structures.

pressure in the hernia exists. Pads have been made of different some pressure on the area of the body surrounding greater importance in adapting it to the particular needs of a given wearer. Adequate support cannot be obtained by correct positioning of the domen of the wearer may be covered with a layer of fatty tissue of more or less thickness. a pad has been of pressure W111 result merely in an uncomfortable and even injurious compression of the fatty in place by pressure over an area no larger than the ends of two fingers. In order that it may be held in place to the best advantage, a similarly localized pressure should be exerted thereon con On the other hand, means for exerting only the local pressure, as the sole pad of a truss or the like, would not be entirely satisfactory for the reason that it and its penetration could not be controlled. It will be obvious that the shape of the pad surface and the depth and configuration of projecting portions thereof are subject to such wide and interminable variations in adapting them to the needs of individual wearer that it is not possible An object of my invention therefore, is the or less as required in an individual case.

e set forth hereinafter, or will be apparent 20 shown a preferred embodiment.

Referring to the drawing: 25 Figure l is a rear elevation of a truss pad showing one type of adjustable mounting. Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail rear elevation of the pad 30 with parts broken away.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the cup-shaped member which varies the bottom of the protuberance.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the washer which 35 bears against the member shown in Figure 4.

The pad may in this instance have a hearing A lacing 40 strip 3, as indicated, may be employed to secure Against the inner mount pad Bearing against the inner surface of the pad l, I have shown a resilient cup-shaped member I,

An arm H is secured against the plate 9 with threaded studs l2, which engage nuts l3 retained against the inner surface of the plate 9.

A screw Hi, having an enlarged end l5, bears against the plate 8 which, in turn, bears against the cup-shaped member I, and as the screw 14 is turned down a protuberance is extended out to a desired degree of contour.

In the construction which I have illustrated, a threaded nut i6 is welded adjacent an opening in'the plates to mount and secure the threads of the screw M.

The arm I I illustrated, has slots II which provide clearance for the threaded studs l2.

The arm H is shown as secured to astr-ap i8, which ordinarily passes around the body and so adjusts the pad at a desired location.

While the construction which I'have described illustrates one modification of my invention, it will be apparent that other shapes of pads and other adjustable means by which the protuberance of the pad may be varied as to contour,

may be provided. The principle of the invention being new, to the best of my knowledge and belief, I claim the same broadly herein. Having thus described my invention,

ent is:-

1. In a truss pad, a rigid base, an integral body of relatively soft sponge rubber, having its major portion secured to said base leaving a small portion of said body free of said base; a button interposedbetween said base and said freeportion of said body and means to move said button from said base to distend said free portion of said body to produce a bulge adjacent said free body portion independently of said major portion.

2. In a pad, a support, an integral body of sponge rubber, and a backing, member therefor, said body having a forward face, means securing the major portion of the rear face thereof to said support and means in back of the body on the support to exert an outward pressureon a relatively small portion only of said body to form a secured in position bearing against 7 having an outer bearing face and means 7 what I I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patform bulge on said forward face while the main marginal area of said face is held by said support in substantially its normal condition.

3. In a pad, a thick integral body of soft, elastic material having adapted to bear against a portion of a human body, a support secured to means holding a relatively wide marginal portion of said body where.- by the; marginal portion is in its normal condition and means on said support to exert an outward pressure on a more central portion of said body to distend said portion only thereof, to thereby form a bulge on a relatively small central area of said face.

4. In a truss pad, a thick integral body of soft 15 elastic material having a bearing face, means to hold the main portion of said body against distortion and means to adjustably distend the remaining portion only of said body to form a bulge of'limited area on said bearing face which protrudes from the main bearing face of the pad.

5. A pad composed of an integral body of thick elastic material and a support therefor, said pad in back of the body on said support to bulge a minor portion only thereof outwardly and cause the relatively same to protrude from the remainder of the bearing face, means to hold the ma or portion of the body against distortion, said bulging means being adjustable to regulate the extent of said bulge.

6. In a pad of the character described, a thick body contacting cushion of sponge rubber and a support therefor, means to hold a marginal portion ofsaid cushion in order to prevent distortion, means on said exert an outward pressure on the remaining unitary portion only of said cushion to a bulge on the forward face thereof while 4 substantial to said support a substantial said forward face is held by the support substantially in its normal condition.

7. In a truss pad, a rigidb'ase; a main body of relatively soft sponge rubber, the major area/of the rear face of said body secured to said base 5 leaving a small area of said rear face free of said base and means to exert an outward pressure on said free area'to body and cause face of the pad to bulge outwardly independently) of the contour of the major portion of said forward face.

distend a minor portion of said BENJAMIN F. PEA SE.

a forward face 5 marginal portion of the surface of 40 

